Dear editor:
Congratulations to both Eatonton City Council and the Putnam County Commission. After months of intense negotiation there is an agreement on the distribution of the LOST sales tax. Under the agreement, in the first year, the City will receive 29% of the revenue and the County will receive 71%. This sales tax revenue will directly offset property taxes.
But wait – City residents are also County residents. So City residents benefit from an offset of County property tax and an offset of City property tax while residents of the unincorporated area only benefit from an offset of County property tax. Does this mean that City residents actually benefit from 100% of the LOST sales tax rather than the 29% negotiated while residents of the unincorporated area benefit from only 71% of the sales tax??
As a resident of the unincorporated area of Putnam County, I am privileged to also reside in the Special Service Delivery area and pay additional property tax for the privilege. Why doesn’t the Special Service District receive a share of the LOST tax to offset the “special” tax? Should the Special Service District be treated as a separate city? Perhaps the negotiation should have been between the City, the County and the Special Service Delivery area. But then, who would negotiate for the Special Service Delivery area? Would the County negotiate with itself?
All of this makes me wonder – Why can’t I wear white after Labor Day?
Stephen Hersey Special Resident